Like many older service stations, it has an all-weather enclosed bridge which enables pedestrians to use both the northbound and southbound facilities. In 2005 this bridge had work carried out to strengthen it to withstand the impact of an HGV.[2]

Motorists can also use both the northbound and southbound facilities by driving through no-entry signs to leave the motorway, cross the motorway on a normal unclassified road and re-enter the motorway services on the other side through another no-entry sign. This is required if accessing the northbound situated Travelodge from the southbound side and the route is detailed on the Travelodge website. [3]

Opened in 1965 with the name Forton services, it was the second service station to open on the motorway (Charnock Richard being the first), and is named after the nearby village of Forton. The architect was T.P. Bennett and Son and it was originally operated by The Rank Organisation.

The Pennine Tower in 1981

The services is notable for an unusual hexagonal concrete tower on the northbound side, named The Pennine Tower, which originally housed an up-market restaurant and a sun deck. The tower was designed to resemble an Air Traffic Control Tower and is a prominent local landmark. The tower closed to the public in 1989 due to current Fire Regulations (there is no means of providing an alternative exit from the restaurant deck in an emergency), and is only used for storage and occasional staff training.[4] The original Otis pentagon-shaped elevators which served the tower are still used to service the ground floor and first floor of the building.